NEW ORLEANS – Taking on its second ranked opponent to open the season, the Nicholls State University women's tennis team came up short against No. 72 Tulane as the Colonels were defeated 5-2 on Saturday afternoon at the City Park Pepsi Center.
 
The Colonels (1-2) took the first doubles match as Julia Meledez and Milou Pietersz won the No. 3 court, but Tulane (1-3) rallied to take the other two courts to earn the point. In singles, junior Stephanie Barnett continued her impressive career at Nicholls with another straight set victory at No. 1, while Meledez capped a perfect day with a victory on the No. 4 court.
 
"I was very proud with how the girls played today against a very tough Tulane team . All credit to them. They came out and did what they needed to do to get the job done and it was a good win," said Nicholls tennis head coach Meenakshi Sundaram. "We played our best but came up a little short. But overall it was a good performance by the girls."
 
In doubles, Clemence Krug and Laia Charles fell on the No. 2 court, 6-4, and the point came down to Barnett and Isla Brock at No. 1. Tulane's Ipek Birol / Sade Atkinson went on to earn the point by edging the duo with a 7-5 win.
 
Tulane went on to clinch the team win by winning the first three completed matches in singles. Brock suffered a rare loss at No. 6, falling to Sofia Kurtz in both sets, 6-2. Charles and Krug lost on the No. 5 and 3 courts, respectively, in straight sets as well.
 
Nicholls earned its first point on the day as Melendez outlasted Jacqui Katz at No. 4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1). Barnett then defeated Naz Karagoz in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5. On the No. 3 court, Pietersz fought back after dropping the first set against Birol to force a third, but would ultimately be defeated, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.
 
The Colonels return to the courts on Monday against ULM. First serve at the Colonel Tennis Complex is scheduled for 11 a.m.
 
#72 Tulane 5, Nicholls 2
Singles
1. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) def. Naz Karagoz (TLN) 6-1, 7-5
2. Ipek Birol (TLN) def. Milou Pietersz (NICH) 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
3. Elena Muller (TLN) def. Clemence Krug (NICH) 7-5, 6-4
4. Julia Melendez (NICH) def. Jacqui Katz (TLN) 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
5. Meredith Maltby (TLN) def. Laia Charles (NICH) 6-2, 6-4
6. Sofia Kurtz (TLN) def. Isla Brock (NICH) 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles
1. Ipek Birol/Sade Atkinson (TLN) def. Stephanie Barnett/Isla Brock (NICH) 7-5
2. Naz Karagoz/Elena Muller (TLN) def. Clemence Krug/Laia Charles (NICH) 6-4
3. Julia Melendez/Milou Pietersz (NICH) def. Jacqui Katz/Sofia Kurtz (TLN) 6-2
 
Match Notes:
Nicholls 1-2
Tulane 1-3; National ranking #72
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,5,3,4,1,2)